Sweet Russian Cookies with Simple Farmer's Cheese

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These soft and sweet cheese cookies are a definite hit with everyone. They’re not your everyday cookie made with farmer’s cheese and sour cream.

Let’s start with a bit of confession: I’m slightly obsessed with cookies. Okay, that might be an understatement. I have been making them often lately, and they get eaten fast. You’ll know what I mean once you’ve tried these ridiculously moist, soft, and sweet cheese cookies.

For me, the perfect dessert is a good quality Russian cookie with simple ingredients. Also, it must be a recipe that’s so easy to create.

These cookies have ingredients you can get at any grocery store if they’re not already at home on hand! They’re perfect for special occasions or to have on any regular weekday, and are great for camping!

You’ve chosen the right recipe if you’re preparing to grace some dessert tables with these amazing cookies. Russian cuisine is generally made up of simple, accessible ingredients. So, it’s easy to cook up some holiday classics.

These cookies are the main course of the dessert table. They keep well for a few days so that you can make them one or two days ahead of time. You can store them in an airtight container or cover them with plastic wrap and keep them at room temperature.

Can I substitute Farmers Cheese with Ricotta Cheese or Cottage Cheese?

The main ingredient here is farmer’s cheese. It has a creamy, crumbly texture and a sweet and milky flavor. Ricotta cheese makes the best substitute for farmer’s cheese. Both will keep the taste and won’t make the cookies fall apart.

Cottage cheese is not the same as farmer’s cheese, so don’t substitute it. The cheese adds a great deal of moisture to the cookies to help bind everything together. Not to mention a perfect slightly sweet, slightly salty taste.

Table of Contents

Key Ingredients

Cookies with farmers cheese ingredients- sour cream, butter, farmers cheese, egg, lemon, baking soda, vanilla, sugar, and flour.

Farmer’s cheese
Sour cream
Sugar
Vanilla
Unsalted butter

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to make Farmer’s Cheese Cookies

Step 1: Beat the butter

In a large bowl, beat the butter until smooth with no clumps.

Softened butter whipping with hand mixers in a glass bowl.

Step 2: Add cheese

Add farmer’s cheese to the butter. Mix well with a spoon.

Farmer's cheese and butter in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon.

Step 3: Add sour cream and vanilla

Fold in the sour cream and vanilla.

Adding sour cream to a bowl of butter with a wooden spoon.

Step 4: Mix baking soda and lemon juice

In a separate medium bowl or cup, mix the baking soda and lemon juice, it will foam. Add to the bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

baking soda and lemon in a bowl with a lemon wedge on the side.

Step 5: Fold in flour

Fold in the all purpose flour. Mix well until all is incorporated. The dough should be soft. (mixing with hands will help incorporate faster).

Step 6: Preheat

Preheat the oven to 350F. Also prepare a baking sheet by putting a sheet of parchment paper.

Step 7: Whisk the egg

With a whisk, in a small bowl whisk the egg to brush the top of each cookie.

Whisked egg yolks in a glass bowl with a whisk.

Step 8: Divide the dough

Divide the dough in half. Sprinkle some flour onto your surface where you can roll out the dough.

Step 9: Roll out the dough

Take one half of the dough and gently roll it out into a rectangle shape. (If the dough is sticking to the surface, it means you are pushing too hard).

Rolling dough with a wooden rolling pin.

Step 10: Sprinkle sugar

Sprinkle a generous amount of sugar throughout the rolled-out dough. (leave some for the other half of the dough and sprinkle on top of each cookie).

Sugar sprinkled onto a rectangle of dough atop flour.

Step 11: Roll in the dough

From the long side roll in the dough.

Rolled dough on an oven-safe baking sheet.

Step 12: Cut

Cut into small pieces. (Remember, they will expand when baking). Put each piece onto the baking sheets and lightly push down each piece with two fingers to seal the open end.

Steps 13 & 14: Prepare to bake

Brush each cookie with a whisked egg, and sprinkle with sugar.

Preparing farmer's cheese cookies to bake with an egg wash and sugar in a bowl on the side.

Repeat the process with the other half of the dough.

Step 15: Bake

Place the cookies into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.

Baked sweet cheese cookies on a baking tray.

Expert Tips

Roll the dough to a consistent thickness, about 1/4 inch, for even baking.
Lightly press down each cookie with two fingers to seal the open end, preventing unraveling during baking.
Experiment with flavor variations by adding citrus zest, almond extract, or spices like cinnamon for a personalized touch.
Use a sharp knife or a pastry cutter to ensure clean and precise cuts when dividing the rolled-out dough into individual pieces.
If you have to substitute the farmer’s cheese, consider ricotta or cottage cheese. Ricotta is the closest alternative.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use powdered sugar to sprinkle the cookies?

No, powdered sugar has a different texture and won’t work well in the oven.

Can I use a mixer or food processor to mix the dough?

A hand mixer or standing mixer will work great, but not a food processor.

What do I do with the egg whites, since brushing the cookies only requires the egg yolks?

Discard the egg white, or use it in another recipe.

Soft and sweet cheese cookies on a plate.

Here are some more tasty dessert recipes:

I love to make this Simple Crunchy Recipe for Almond Cookies for the whole family.
These Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Muffins taste like they’re from a bakery!

More sweet recipes

If you tried these Soft and Sweet Cheese Cookies or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!